logic behind using a pin pointer?

I will leave myself open to getting razzed about this question but I don't really know the answer. What is the real reason for using a pin pointer. I have watched the testing videos and they say this one detects 2inches and this one 4inches and on and on. If you are metal detecting or gold for that matter what depth do you really need or is considered ideal for one? Please bear in mind I don't own one and don't know if it is really needed? Thanks for any input.

What I like about a pin pointer is finding my target much faster, which means I will be digging my next find while my buddy without a pp is still looking ---saves a lot of time. And my back and legs are not what they use to be, so less time in the down position also. Finding more then 1 target in the same hole is much easier also-----there will be more added by other tnetters-----good luck and I like the garrett pp

Definitely, in areas with lots of targets or small targets it makes a world of difference. I'll be getting a Garrett carrot soon as I have the money instead of putting it torward a new detector at the moment.

I hunted my 1st 3 months without a pin pointer and dug about $200, I am cheap and decided to get a BH pinpointer. (huge mistake). it has the range of about 1/2 inch and makes a better paper weight. I then went back to hunting another 3 months without a pin pointer and dug about $200 more. When I finally took the plunge and got a good pin pointer (came with a used F75LTDSE, I was amazed at how quickly I could recover a target without having to grab clumps of dirt in my fist and wave it over the coil. I will not hunt without one now. I have 2 garretts just in case one breaks. I just wander how much more clad I could have dug my 1st season if I had a pin pointer for the 1st 6 months of the 8 month season. There are plenty of plugs that I dig where a pin pointer is not necessary since the coin is showing or the clad ball is visible, but it does allow you to hear if there are more targets in the hole.

It is a luxury, not something you MUST have. Honestly, I almost never use it because my Tesoro machines pinpoint really well and I've been doing this so long I can usually see the target as soon as I open the plug. Sometimes when I "miss" and the target is in the wall of the hole the pinpointer does come in very handy. It slows me down though because it is an Extra Step. Get the Garrett, they are the best and last the longest.

There are some targets that are in the soil that take on the color of the soil. You can have a hand full of that soil with the item in it and still cannot determine where the target is without poking around with the pointer. I have had long buried 14 K items coated black and appeared to be just more clumps of soil until I rubbed the pointer over it. I will not be without mine.

* Can prevent damage to valuable targets, as such has the potential to pay for itself
* Makes recovery easier ... Not necessarily only digging in holes, but causal detecting at tot lots/beach as well

2" range is a bit much for me for a coin, I'd prefer more like 1", reason being is that its purpose is to let you know you are getting very close to a small metal object, if it alerted at 5" it would be useless. You have already pinpointed its general location with the detector, now its time to find its exact location, and a pinpointer helps do that quickly and efficiently.

They are definitely a luxury. Come in very useful when you're trying to find a 1/4" size Civil War cap in 10 pounds of dirt. If you have a lot of targets in a small area, it will find them quicker and give you more time to look for more stuff.